In Healing Your Emotional Self, Beverly Engle offers her highly effective Mirror Therapy program to help you reject the distorted images your parents either intentionally or unintentionally projected onto you. She explores the seven types of emotionally abusive or neglectful parents and the seven most common parental mirrors, providing specific advice and recovery strategies for each one.

The Emotionally Abusive Relationship: How to Stop Being Abused and How to Stop Abusing

The number of people who become involved with partners who abuse them emotionally and/or who are emotionally abusive themselves is phenomenal, and yet emotional abuse is the least understood form of abuse. In this breakthrough book, Beverly Engel shows us what it is and what to do about it. Whether you suspect you are being emotionally abused, fear that you might be emotionally abusing your partner, or think that both you and your partner are emotionally abusing each other, this book is for you.

It Wasn't Your Fault: Freeing Yourself From the Shame of Childhood Abuse with the Power of Self-Compassion

Shame is one of the most destructive of human emotions. If you suffered childhood physical or sexual abuse, you may experience such intense feelings of shame that it almost seems to define you as a person. In order to begin healing, it's important for you to know that it wasn't your fault. In this gentle guide, therapist and childhood abuse expert Beverly Engel presents a mindfulness and compassion-based therapeutic approach to help you overcome the debilitating shame that keeps you tied to the past.

Who's Pulling Your Strings?: How to Break the Cycle of Manipulation and Regain Control of Your Life

Millions of people, both men and women, can become involved in relationships with manipulators, people who control through emotional manipulation, insults, and mind games. These "toxic" relationships erode self-esteem and make life miserable for the victim.

Victory Over Verbal Abuse: A Healing Guide to Renewing Your Spirit and Reclaiming Your Life

Verbal abuse permeates our culture — from the privacy of our own homes to the public glare of our schools, workplaces, and other institutions. But you don’t have to live with it. With Patricia Evans’ assistance, you’ll achieve the clarity you need to build a new life — far from senseless accusations, wounding words, and confusing comments that have taken an untold toll on your psyche. You’ll find validation, and learn to believe in yourself — and a better future — once more.

Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men

He says he loves you. So...why does he do that? You've asked yourself this question again and again. Now you have the chance to see inside the minds of angry and controlling men---and to change your life. In this groundbreaking book, a counselor who specializes in working with abusive men shows you how to improve, survive, or leave an abusive relationship.

Controlling People: How to Recognize, Understand, and Deal with People Who Try to Control You

In Controlling People, best-selling author Patricia Evans tackles the "controlling personality" and reveals how and why these people try to run other people's lives. She also explains the compulsion that makes them continue this behavior - even as they alienate others and often lose those they love. Should you ever find yourself in the thrall of someone close to you, Controlling People is here to give you the wisdom, power, and comfort you need to be a stronger, happier, and more independent person.

The Assertiveness Guide for Women: How to Communicate Your Needs, Set Healthy Boundaries, and Transform Your Relationships

Isn't it time you took a stand? Many women struggle with assertiveness, but if you're prone to anxiety and avoidance, it is especially difficult. Grounded in attachment theory, this essential guide will help you identify your thoughts and feelings, balance your emotions, communicate your needs, and set healthy boundaries to improve your life.

Women Who Love Too Much: When You Keep Wishing and Hoping He'll Change

Is having 'somebody to love' the most important thing in your life? Do you constantly believe that with 'the right man' you would no longer feel depressed or lonely? Are you bored with 'nice guys' who are open, honest, and dependable? If being in love means being in pain, this book was written for you. Therapist Robin Norwood describes loving too much as a pattern of thoughts and behavior, which certain women develop as a response to problems from childhood.

The psychopath carefully selects the most indifferent and heartbreaking way imaginable to abandon you. They destroy you as a way to reassure themselves. Psychopath Free will help you out of the darkness so that you can begin making better choices that will forever alter the course of your life. So say farewell to love triangles, cryptic letters, self-doubt, and manufactured anxiety. You are no longer a pawn in the mind games of a psychopath. You are free.

Deal Breakers: When to Work on a Relationship and When to Walk Away

This is a book about men. Not all men, just emotionally unhealthy men. The ones who make you question, "Is it him or is it me? Am I making too big a deal out of this? I try to tell him how I feel, but he says I'm overreacting or needy or it's all my fault". Relationships are hard work, but how hard should they be? When do you know you are struggling too hard to make a relationship succeed?

The Road Back to Me: Healing and Recovering from Co-Dependency, Addiction, Enabling, and Low Self Esteem

This story is told through the jagged peephole of the author's awareness, examining her formative wounds and influences from the perspective of a woman who has now gained experience and wisdom. As she peers over her soul's shoulder, she recalls the chaos of her once-fragile childhood mind. She shudders as she is reminded of the sting of her lonely childhood, her feelings of abandonment, and her painful memories of being bullied.

Daily Wisdom for Why Does He Do That?: Encouragement for Women Involved with Angry and Controlling Men

Like a constant friend, this collection of meditations is a source of strength and reassurance designed to speak to women like you, women in relationships with angry and controlling men. It helps you to digest what is happening a piece at a time, so you can gain clarity, safety, and freedom.

The Verbally Abusive Man, Can He Change?: A Woman's Guide to Deciding Whether to Stay or Go

Coupling stories of abused women and abusive men from her own case studies, Patricia Evans here gives you the tools you need to transform your relationship. Most important, she assures you that such a transformation is possible—given the right circumstances. Evans also helps you determine if your abuser really has changed—or if he’s merely creating the illusion of change. And if he hasn’t changed, Evans helps you decide whether it’s time to leave the relationship—and what to do when it is.

Emotional Vampires: Dealing with People Who Drain You Dry, 2nd Edition

Emotional Vampires will help you cope effectively with the people in your life that confound you, confuse you, and seem to sap every ounce of your energy. Best-selling author Dr. Al Bernstein shows you how to recognize each vampire type - antisocial, histrionic, narcissists, obsessive-compulsives, paranoids - and deal with them effectively.

Stop Caretaking the Borderline or Narcissist: How to End the Drama and Get On with Life

People with borderline or narcissistic personality disorders have a serious mental illness that primarily affects their intimate, personal, and family relationships. Often they appear to be normally functioning at work and in public interactions, and narcissists may even be highly effective, in the short term, in some work or social situations. However, in intimate relationships, they can be emotional, aggressive, demeaning, illogical, paranoid, accusing, and controlling - in the extreme.

When I Say No, I Feel Guilty

The best seller that helps you say, "I just said 'no', and I don't feel guilty!" Are you letting your kids get away with murder? Are you allowing your mother-in-law to impose her will on you? Are you embarrassed by praise or crushed by criticism? Are you having trouble coping with people? Learn the answers in When I Say No, I Feel Guilty, the best seller with revolutionary new techniques for getting your own way.

How to Do No Contact Like a Boss!: The Woman's Guide to Implementing No Contact & Detaching from Toxic Relationships

How to Do No Contact like a Boss explains the reasons for going No Contact and takes the listener through the initial planning stages, exit strategies, the moment of No Contact, what to expect in the days that follow, and how to deal with a persistent and/or abusive ex who refuses to respect one's request for No Contact. Also included are alternative healing methods that address what traditional therapy often overlooks.

Publisher's Summary

Find out how women can overcome the pressure to please others and feel free to be their true selves.

Are you too nice for your own good? Do family members manipulate you? Do coworkers take advantage of you? If this sounds familiar, listen to The Nice Girl Syndrome. In this breakthrough guide, renowned author and therapist Beverly Engel, who has helped thousands of women recognize and leave emotionally abusive relationships, can show you how to take control of your life and take care of yourself.

Engel explains that women today simply cannot afford to be Nice Girls, because women who are too nice send the message that they are easy targets and are much more likely to be victimized emotionally, physically, and sexually. She identifies the seven different types of Nice Girls and helps you understand which type or types might apply to you. Engel helps you determine whether the Nice Girl Syndrome is keeping you in an abusive relationship or in manipulative situations and helps you change Nice Girl beliefs and behaviors that are holding you back. This book:

Explains how to confront the beliefs and behaviors that keep you stuck in a Nice Girl act as you replace them with healthier, more empowering ones.

Includes inspiring stories of women Engel has worked with who have found the courage and strength to stop taking abuse and start standing up for themselves.

Is written by renowned author and therapist Beverly Engel, who has helped thousands of women recognize and leave emotionally abusive relationships.

Filled with wise advice, powerful exercises, and practical prescriptions, The Nice Girl Syndrome tells you step by step how to take control of your life and be your own strong woman.

Some of this book did not sit well with me. There were several references to childhood trauma, forgiving your parents for abuse, that just didn't seem to fit with what had just been discussed. I have no childhood traumas or abuse from family - which after listening to this book it seems that women who have gone thru this seemed to be the target audience. I thought the book would be more about how to be assertive & better express yourself/emotions, etc - not recovering from physical & emotional abuse.

While parts were slightly relatable to my situation, nothing gave me that "ah ha!" moment of thats what i need to do with myself. But hey, thats my opinion. Others may find just what they need out of this book.

most examples were so accurate you would think the nice girl syndrome was a pandemic.it sure seems to be. the emphasis is on learnt submission in childhood and watching other women act this way, 'taking things lying down'.I did this for so long to be accepted and avoid displeasure. I like the tone of the book and the narrative is very pleasing. you will like listening as it explains scenarios and why it went wrong. specificity is important when dealing with the fragile human psyche.I like the book alot. it will address all important human relationships the nice girl has been conditioned to become a people pleaser at her cost.

Many times in my life people told my i was "too nice".. Now i know clearly what they meant and why i acted like that. The thing is that there is a difference between being just nice (polite, friendly etc.) to people that is generally OK and being TOO nice. Being too nice is letting some people take advantage of you, hurt or manipulate... Unfortunatelly we live in the world that not everyone is so called "nice", so it's very important to know the difference... Everybody want to be good - man want to be "good guys" and women want to be "nice girls", but it's very important to know and not to cross the limits. this book helped me a lot to understand myself, why i acted like i acted in the past, and to understand and see clearly that some people tried to manipulate me, now i see the truth. I recommend this book to all the women that are little bit naive or wearing "pink glasses" and wants to believe that human nature is all good etc. well it is sometimes, and sometimes not. Thank you Beverly for this honest and straightforward book!

I've been a doormat my whole life, and I didn't really know why. I also had no idea how common my issues were. Although I couldn't relate to some of the things in this book, overall it was extremely eye-opening. I'd recommend it to anyone who's ever felt small, afraid of conflict, and undeserving of just treatment.